's well-known and plenty of experience and so he's expected to be a shoe in. but senator chuck hagel, the nominee to be the next secretary of defense has taken some heat and today senator kerry stuck up for senator hagel. >> i know chuck hagel and i think he is a strong, patriotic, former senator and he will be a strong secretary of defense. >> also tonight, a letter being circulated signed by former secretaries of state, secretaries of defense, and national security advisors trying to help the hagel nomination across the finish line. >> shepard: mike emmanuel, thanks. senator kerry testified before the same committee more than 40 years ago as a vietnam veteran who opposed the war. as he put it back when he was 27 years old, how do you ask a man to be the last man to die for a mistake? senator kerry talked about that testimony after an antiwar demonstrator interrespected today's hearing. >> i first came to washington and testified, i obviously was testifying as part of the group of people who came here to have their voices heard. and that is above all what this place is about. people
